Deir el Qamar Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Deir el Qamar Synagogue, located in Deir el Qamar
, a village in south-central Lebanon
, is the oldest synagogue
in Mount Lebanon
. The synagogue was built in the 17th century to serve the local Jewish population, some of whom were part of the immediate entourage of Fakhr-al-Din II
. The building is in good condition. It has been shut to the public due to security considerations. After restoration work which had removed all religious symbols, the synagogue has been entrusted to the French cultural center by the General Directorate of Antiquities.
Deir el Qamar
Deir el Qamar is a village in south-central Lebanon, five kilometres outside of Beiteddine, consisting of stone houses with red-tiled roofs. During the 16th to 18th centuries, Deir el Qamar was the residence of the governors of Lebanon...
, a village in south-central Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, is the oldest synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
. The synagogue was built in the 17th century to serve the local Jewish population, some of whom were part of the immediate entourage of Fakhr-al-Din II
Fakhr-al-Din II
Emir Fakhr-al-Din ibn Maan was the 1st prince of the State of Lebanon which has self-governed under the Ottoman Empire between the 17th and 19th centuries. Son of Prince Qorqmaz ibn Maan and Sit Nasab of the Tanukhi family, he was given the title "Emir" or Prince in Arabic because the Maan...
. The building is in good condition. It has been shut to the public due to security considerations. After restoration work which had removed all religious symbols, the synagogue has been entrusted to the French cultural center by the General Directorate of Antiquities.